U.S. patent application number 12/046819 was filed with the patent office on 2008-09-18 for device for communication.
Invention is credited to Sabine Schaeffer-Kundler, Sebastian Schmidt.
Application Number | 20080228042 12/046819 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39688020 |
Filed Date | 2008-09-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080228042 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Schmidt; Sebastian ; et
al. |
September 18, 2008 |
DEVICE FOR COMMUNICATION
Abstract
In a device, a method and a system for communication between a
control module that can be associated with a local console of a
medical modality, an examination module that can be associated with
the medical modality, and an administration module that can be
associated with an administration entity remote from the medical
modality, respective communication units that can be connected
among one another are associated with each of the modules and the
signals transferred from a respective communication unit are
transferred to the communication unit of at least one other module;
and the communication unit of the administration module of the
remote administration entity can access data of the medical
modality.
Inventors: |
Schmidt; Sebastian;
(Weisendorf, DE) ; Schaeffer-Kundler; Sabine;
(Herzogenaurach, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SCHIFF HARDIN, LLP;PATENT DEPARTMENT
6600 SEARS TOWER
CHICAGO
IL
60606-6473
US
|
Family ID: |
39688020 |
Appl. No.: |
12/046819 |
Filed: |
March 12, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
600/300 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G16H 40/67 20180101;
A61B 2560/0271 20130101; G06F 19/00 20130101; A61B 6/56 20130101;
G16H 40/40 20180101; A61B 5/0002 20130101; A61B 6/032 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
600/300 |
International
Class: |
A61B 5/00 20060101
A61B005/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 12, 2007 |
DE |
10 2007 011 844.0 |
Claims
1. A communication device for use in a system comprising a medical
modality comprising an operating console having a control module
associated therewith and a medical examination unit having an
examination module associated therewith, and an administration
module having an administration module associated with an
administration entity that is remote from said medical modality,
said device comprising: a first communication unit associated with
said control module, a second communication unit associated with
said examination module, and a third communication unit associated
with said administration module, said first, second and third
communication units being in communication with each other to allow
exchange of data, represented by signals, among said control
module, said examination module and said administration module;
said third communication unit at said remote administration entity
comprising an input unit that allows control of the medical
modality via the third control unit from the remote administration
entity, and a display system; and said display system of said third
communication unit displaying an indicator that indicates a
presence of an operator at the medical modality and said input unit
allowing control of said medical modality from said remote
administration entity dependent on said indicator.
2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said
communication units comprises at least one microphone and at least
one speaker.
3. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein each communication unit
comprises at least one camera with a field of view at least
encompassing an operator of that communication unit, and wherein
each of said first and second communication units also comprises a
display system.
4. A device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said display system of
said third communication unit at said remote administration entity
automatically displays all information that are displayed locally
at the display system of the first communication unit at the
medical modality.
5. A device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said display system of
said third communication unit at said remote administration entity
displays information obtained from said examination module
concerning at least one of a person to be examined at said medical
modality and an examination to be conducted at said medical
modality.
6. A device as claimed in claim 1 comprising, at said medical
modality, a detector that identifies said presence of said operator
at said medical modality and that causes said indicator to be
displayed at said display system of said third communication
unit.
7. A communication method for use in a system comprising a medical
modality comprising an operating console having a control module
associated therewith and a medical examination unit having an
examination module associated therewith, and an administration
module having an administration module associated with an
administration entity that is remote from said medical modality,
said device comprising: associating a first communication unit with
said control module, associating a second communication unit with
said examination module, and associating a third communication unit
with said administration module, and allowing communication among
said first, second and third communication units for exchange of
data, represented by signals, among said control module, said
examination module and said administration module; said third
communication unit at said remote administration entity comprising
an input unit and a display system, and allowing control of the
medical modality via the third control unit from the input unit
thereof remote administration entity; and at said display system of
said third communication unit, displaying an indicator that
indicates a presence of an operator at the medical modality and
controlling said medical modality from said remote administration
entity dependent on said indicator.
8. A communication system comprising: a medical modality comprising
an operating console having a control module associated therewith
and a medical examination unit having an examination module
associated therewith; an administration module having an
administration module associated with an administration entity that
is remote from said medical modality; a first communication unit
associated with said control module, a second communication unit
associated with said examination module, and a third communication
unit associated with said administration module, said first, second
and third communication units being in communication with each
other to allow exchange of data, represented by signals, among said
control module, said examination module and said administration
module; said third communication unit at said remote administration
entity comprising an input unit that allows control of the medical
modality via the third control unit from the remote administration
entity, and a display system; and said display system of said third
communication unit displaying an indicator that indicates a
presence of an operator at the medical modality and said input unit
allowing control of said medical modality from said remote
administration entity dependent on said indicator.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention concerns a device for communication
between a control module that is associated with a local operator
of a medical modality, an examination module that is associated
with the medical modality and an administration module that is
associated with an administration facility that is remote from the
medical modality, with communication units that can be connected
among one another being respectively associated with each
module.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] Given incorrect or problematic procedures in the framework
of an examination workflow at a medical modality (such as, for
example, a computed tomography apparatus), the necessity regularly
occurs to incorporate an administration facility (for example a
remote third party) into the examination workflow in addition to
the local operator.
[0005] The remote third person can be a physician, for example, who
has special knowledge with regard to the examination workflow or
the disease of the person to be examined. If the problem is a
technical problem with the medical modality, the remote third
person can be a maintenance (service) or development engineer of
the manufacturer.
[0006] Conventionally, the operator (for example a physician or a
nurse) informs the remote third person about the examination
workflow by telephone. The remote third person is therewith
disadvantageously provided with only a very limited amount of
information, which can severely limit the quality of the remote
diagnosis or remote administration. Moreover, conventionally only a
very limited possibility, or even no possibility at all, exists to
incorporate the modality or the person to be examined into the
procedure. This can be necessary, however, in certain cases.
Particularly in the examinations of patients who are being infused
or must be specially supported, it is of the utmost importance for
the control of the scan procedure that these environment parameters
are taken into account, for example in order to prevent the
apparatus from tearing away the infusion tube due to its movements
or that patient is harmed. In the context of neurosurgery it is
also of particular importance that the environmental parameters be
taken into account in the control of the respective modality. The
environment or context parameters are all data relevant for the
examination or treatment that can be imaged by acoustic or optical
or other signals and concern the context of the examination (for
example questions: How is the patient supported? Is there an
infusion, etc?).
[0007] Such context data are conventionally not automatically
available to the maintenance engineer, who must to ask about them
by telephone. This represents a significant disadvantage and risk
of error.
[0008] DE 10 2004 049 402 discloses a conventional system for
remote administration. Here a medical imaging system is
administered by a remote operation via an operation workstation.
The remote operation can be disabled in order to be able to satisfy
security aspects.
[0009] One solution to circumvent the problem of telephone
interrogation is taught in DE 10 2006 033 064. Here a bidirectional
communication between a stationary communication unit and a mobile
communication unit is supported via audio and video.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] An object of the present invention is to provide a device
that solves the aforementioned problems or at least reduces
them.
[0011] In the following the invention is described using the
solution according to a device. Mentioned advantages, features and
alternative embodiments that will be described in connection with
the specification of the inventive device are also applicable to
the method and/or the system of the invention.
[0012] The device in accordance with the present invention for
communication between a first module that is associated with a
local control console of a medical modality, a second module that
is associated with the medical modality (and therewith at least
indirectly with a person to be examined) and a third module that is
associated with an administration entity (which can be operated by
a further person) remote from the medical modality includes
communication units that are respectively associated with each
module and that can be connected among one another in terms of
data, with the signals received or sent by a respective
communication unit being transferred to at least one communication
unit of the other modules or to at least one other module, and the
administration module can access data of the medical modality at
least as needed, in particular all data that are relevant to the
control of the medical modality. The communication unit of the
remote administration entity has an input unit to control the
medical modality and a display system. The input unit to control
the medical modality via the remote administration entity can
thereby be connected dependent on an indicator, and the display
system identifies a presence of an operator at the medical modality
with the indicator.
[0013] The inventive device allows an administration entity to
directly access the data of the medical modality and to
specifically interrogate either the operator and/or the examined
person using the information provided by the data and/or to
specifically instruct the operator and/or the examined person
and/or to correspondingly control the medical modality.
[0014] A computed tomography system, a magnetic resonance
tomography system, an x-ray fluoroscopy system, an angiography
system or other medical apparatuses that are suitable to implement
medical imaging methods are examples of "medical modality".
[0015] The term "module," as used herein means a data processing
system of the type known in the prior art. The employed modules can
be composed differently.
[0016] In a preferred embodiment, the second module relates to an
arbitrary medical modality, the first module advantageously relates
to this medical modality and the third module is an administration
entity (advantageously a remote administration entity) that can be
connected or disconnected as needed. The typical local console
operation is then mirrored at the administration module.
[0017] A communication between three communication partners is thus
typically provided. Alternatively, it is possible to form the
communication only between two entities, such as between the
administration module and a further (local, examination-related)
module.
[0018] The signals can be acoustic, optical or other signals (for
example video data etc.) that are relevant to the context of the
examination to be controlled (for example the presence or absence
of personnel, instructions regarding particular bearing of the
patient, instructions regarding necessary medical interventions
(placement of an access). The term "examination-relevant
environment parameters" encompasses all the data and parameters
that are relevant for the control and/or implementation of the
respective examination or treatment at the modality. A selection
from among such data can be considered in an alternative
embodiment. This is advantageously visual information with regard
to the modality and/or with regard to the patient who should be
examined by the modality.
[0019] Transfer of the signals to the respective communication
means can ensue by means of networks known in the prior art. Among
other things this can thereby be an internet network or an internal
network (known as an intranet).
[0020] Moreover, it is advantageous for each communication unit to
have at least one microphone system, at least one speaker system
and/or at least one camera system and at least one display
system.
[0021] Via the specified systems, the possibility is afforded for
the participants to communicate directly with one another in image
and sound without the use of a further transmission channel being
necessary (as previously, for example the use of the telephone).
For example, the remote third person can immediately recognize what
influence the given instructions have or whether they are correctly
followed.
[0022] The visual depictions of the participating persons can be
displayed, for example, in a picture-in-picture presentation or on
respective individual display devices.
[0023] Moreover, the administration entity can detect whether the
operator is present or not.
[0024] In an embodiment the communication unit of the remote third
person includes input unit to control the medical modality.
[0025] The possibility thereby exists for the remote third instance
to actively intervene in the examination workflow by taking over
the control of the medical modality.
[0026] The display system of the remote third instance shows data
that are displayed locally on a screen at the medical modality.
[0027] This can ensue, for example, by synchronization of at least
one monitor (of the display system) of the administration entity
with the monitor at the medical modality.
[0028] This affords possibility for the administration entity to
record all relevant data in the same presentation form as they are
displayed at the medical modality.
[0029] In a further embodiment, a device is provided for
determination of the presence and/or absence of the operator at the
medical modality and the administration entity is informed of the
presence or absence of the operator at the medical modality and/or
at the console by an indicator. The indicator can be an acoustic or
optical signal.
[0030] The administration entity thereby knows in a simple manner
whether the operator is present.
[0031] The administration entity is able to establish a time at
which the administrative entity controls the examination workflow
alone, and can possibly end the examination workflow or the control
thereof in the event that a person is no longer locally on site.
Sole control of the modality or the examination on the part of the
administration entity can be safely precluded. This proves to be
extremely important for liability reasons.
[0032] The device for determination of the presence of the
operator, for example, can be a transmitter that the operator wears
and a corresponding receiver that, for example, is provided in the
communication unit of the modality. Monitoring the presence of the
operator also can be ensued by means of the already-present camera
system.
[0033] The communication units can be acoustic or optical in nature
or a combination of these types. For example, an optical unit can
be designed in the form of a camera system. The communication unit
(for example the camera system) can be arranged only directly in
the environment of the modality or in the examination room thereof,
or can be cumulatively or alternatively arranged in the console
room, so as to enable a visual contact with the examination
room.
[0034] In a further embodiment the display system of the
administration system presents information with regard to the
modality or with regard to the person to be examined.
[0035] "Information of the person to be examined" encompasses such
information that is normally present for the operator but not the
remote third person.
[0036] Information about the feed of contrast agent, EEG charts,
ECG charts and about the positioning of the person to be examined
in the medical modality can in particular serve as context
parameters and be displayed.
[0037] The administration entity thus can essentially monitor the
entire examination workflow as well, and is not limited to only the
data of the medical modality. This affords the possibility of a
two-stage monitoring whereby the examination can be monitored from
the console entity and from the administration entity. Moreover,
the administration entity can also monitor the actions of the
console entity.
[0038] According to the invention the input unit for controlling
the medical modality via the administration entity can be connected
dependent on the indicator that shows the presence of the operator
at the medical modality.
[0039] This means that the control of the remote third person is
deactivated when no operator is present at the medical modality, or
the control is activated only when the indicator indicates the
presence of the operator.
[0040] It can thereby be safely ensured that the administration
entity is never solely responsible for the examination
workflow.
[0041] The above object also is achieved by a method and in a
system with features corresponding to the features described above
in connection with the device.
[0042] With the inventive system it is possible for one or more
entities to be connected in addition to an administration entity,
or monitoring entity or an entity connected for another purpose.
For example, a first physician and a second specialist can be
active (perhaps in the manner of a remote consult) and can be
connected in the case of a complicated neurosurgical operation
using a modality.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0043] The single FIGURE schematically illustrates an embodiment of
an inventive device operable in accordance with the inventive
method.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0044] The inventive device has a first module 1 that is associated
with a control entity, a second module 2 that is associated with a
medical modality (and therewith indirectly with a person to be
examined) and a third module 3 that is associated with a remote
administration entity with a third person. The association with the
persons is here incorporated only for the purpose of better
comprehensibility. The actual communication ensures between two or
three communication units respectively of the console entity, the
examination entity and the administration entity.
[0045] The first module 1 has a data processing installation 5 to
which the following items are connected: a camera system 6, a
microphone 7, an input system 8, a display system that is composed
of a first monitor 9 and a second monitor 10, and a speaker system
11. The second monitor 10 is associated with a medical modality 50
and serves for the control of the medical modality 50.
[0046] The second module 2 has a data processing installation 25 to
which the following items are connected: a camera system 26, a
microphone 27, a display system that has a monitor 29, and a
speaker system 30. The medical modality 50 that is connected with
the data processing installation 25 is additionally arranged at the
second module 2.
[0047] The third module 3 has a data processing installation 35 to
which the following items are connected: a camera system 36, a
microphone 37, an input system 38, a display system that has a
monitor 39, and a speaker system 40.
[0048] The data processing installations 5, 25, 35 are connected
with one another via a network node 60. This network node 60 can be
a network node of an internal network or of the internet
connection. It is to be understood that a number of further network
nodes can be provided between the data processing systems 5, 25, 35
without deviating from the inventive concept.
[0049] The images of the camera systems of the respective modules
1, 2, 3 are presented with a format known as a picture-in-picture
display.
[0050] Data about the modality or about the person to be examined
(for example in which position the patient is located on bed, etc.)
and an image of the monitor 10 that serves for control of the
medical modality 50 can also be presented on the monitor 39 of the
remote third entity. Moreover, the monitor 39 of the third entity
shows whether the operator is present or not.
[0051] Via the input system 38 the administration entity can take
over the control of the medical modality 50 and thereby detect
whether the operator is present or not. The control of the
administration entity inventively ensues via the same communication
channel as the transfer of the information or context parameters
relevant to the examination (or treatment) The establishment of an
additional channel (for example, a telephone connection) is not
necessary. Moreover, it is inventively provided that all
examination-relevant information is automatically transferred to
the administration module.
[0052] Although modifications and changes may be suggested by those
skilled in the art, it is the intention of the inventors to embody
within the patent warranted hereon all changes and modifications as
reasonably and properly come within the scope of their contribution
to the art.
* * * * *